By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Christmas is coming! And the good news is that there are lots of ways to enjoy the festive season in Southport!
Here are eight fabulous Christmas inspired attractions that you and your can enjoy in Southport over the next few days.
If you know of any others taking place, please let us know.
1 – Ice Skating Southport
An ice skating rink is BACK in Southport this December!
The rink – with real ice – has been installed at Victoria Park in Southport to bring the magic of Christmas to families.
There are tickets available via the Ice Skating Southport website here.
Nearly 13,000 visitors enjoyed the popular attraction last year.
The rink is open between 4.45pm and 9pmTuesday to Friday, and 9.45am – 9pm each Saturday and Sunday (closed Mondays).
Then, things get really busy when the attraction is open 9.45am – 9pm from Tuesday 17th December until Monday, 30th December 2024 – including on Christmas Eve.
The site will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Ice Skating Southport has been brought to town for the third year in a row by North West Marquee Hire.
2 – Breakfast With Santa
Father Christmas and his team of elves are hosting the new Breakfast With Santa mornings at Silcock’s Pier Family Restaurant on the Promenade in Southport.
They are running during Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the run-up to Christmas.
The mornings include a delicious breakfast; a festive gift; a visit from Father Christmas and his elves; and even a ride on the iconic Silcock’s Carousel.
Excited children will be able to enjoy a festive morning at Silcock’s Pier Family Restaurant on the following Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during December 2024: 13th, 14th & 15th; and 20th, 21st & 22nd December from 10:30am.
You can either book online https://www.silcock-leisure.co.uk/breakfast-with-santa/ or you can also call in and get your tickets.
Tickets cost £10 (plus booking free) per child.
3 – Bad Santa Bingo
This Christmas, The Grand is delighted to announce that Santa is making a grand appearance between 2pm and 6pm on Sunday, 22nd 2024!
Yes, Santa himself will be hosting our festive Christmas Show. While he’s still checking his list twice, this year he’s focusing on the naughty ones. Get ready for a twist, as Santa embraces his playful side, becoming a Bad Santa with a saucy flair! After a long night of delivering gifts, Santa is eager to kick off his iconic black boots and join the party. Come and join Bad Santa and his trusty DJ Elf for an unforgettable afternoon filled with festive challenges and exciting prizes. Don’t leave your Christmas celebration to chance. Come and sing, dance, and dab the afternoon away with Bad Santa’s Bingo! It’s sure to be full of joy, laughter, and holiday spirit. See you there!
These tickets are non transferable and non refundable.
Book at: www.thegrand.co.uk
4 – Santa’s Grotto
Father Christmas is making a welcome return to Wayfarers Shopping Arcade on Lord Street in Southport!
Families can also enjoy calling into Wayfarers Shopping Arcade to see Santa Claus and his lovely Mrs Claus as they prepare to welcome you into their enchanting grotto.
No reservations needed – just pop in whenever your holiday spirit calls you.
For £10 per child, your little ones will receive a premium gift and memories to treasure forever. The Christmas tree and festive decorations are now in place inside the Grade II Listed Wayfarers Shopping Arcade, a beautiful sight at this time of year, and a great backdrop for pictures.
Santa’s Grotto will be at Wayfarers Shopping Arcade every weekend until Christmas. Special guests like the ever-playful Elves, and the enchanting sisters, Queen Elsa and Anna, will also be joining the festive fun, courtesy of Gambolling Arena from 10am – 4pm.
on the following dates:
Sat 14th Dec
Sun 15th Dec
Sat 21st Dec
Sun 22nd Dec
Tues 24th Dec
People can also pick up Christmas gift ideas at the Memory Lane Craft & Gift Fair which takes place every weekend alongside the grotto.
5 – Festive Brass Band Pub Tour
One of the region’s best brass bands will be bringing Christmas songs and carols to Southport’s pubs this December.
Skelmersdale Prize Band, which came runner-up in a national competition earlier this year, will be playing popular Christmas tunes in a series of pubs in Southport town centre between 8pm and 10pm on Saturday, 14th December 2024.
In return, they will be asking for donations from members of the public to support their band’s ongoing efforts in the community.
Their idea has proved to be so popular that they will split into two groups, each taking a route of local pubs, and taking in as many venues as they can. The full list is below.
Venues include: Conolly’s Irish Pub; Farmhouse Kitchen; The Windmill; The Southport Tavern; The Pavilion; Crave Pizza; Enelle’s Glass House; The Southport Coaster; The Lakeside Inn; Coopers Bar; Occulo Lounge; The Cheshire Lines ; Kokomo; Tap and Bottles; The Grand; The Bold Hotel; Punch Tarmey’s; and Royales.
6 – Christmas Comedy Bingo Winter Social
People are invited to come out and enjoy a great afternoon at the Christmas Comedy Bingo Winter Social.
The fun festive event, organised by Big Comedy UK and supported by the Halliwell Jones MINI Big Love campaign, take place at Southport Market in Southport town centre 1.30pm-3.30pm on Wednesday 18th December 2024.
Tickets cost £3 each and include all the bingo cards you need, in addition to a free cup of tea, cup of coffee, glass of wine or glass of lager.
People can book their place via Skiddle or the Big Comedy website www.bigcomedyuk.com
7 – Gingerbread Trail
The Gingerbread Family Trail is back in Southport town centre this Christmas.
Visitors can explore the town centre, searching in the windows of businesses for the colourful characters.
The Trail makes for a great day out in the town centre and there are great prizes to be won too!
Using a Trail map to navigate, discover the characters one by one and make a note of each of their names. Once all ten are discovered, maps can be posted to Santa’s Letterbox in Marble Place, or handed in at The Atkinson Library.
One lucky winner will be drawn at random and will receive a Nintendo Switch with games from GAME Southport.
This year, the names of the Gingerbread Family are being chosen by the pupils of Marshside Primary School.
There’s more fun to be had at two Selfie Zones, where you can pose for pictures with Gingerbread props.
Silcock’s Pier Family Restaurant on the Promenade will be home to the Gingerbread Sleigh, and the Gingerbread Throne can be found Over The Moon Kids Boutique & Shoe Studio on Union Street.
The Selfie Zones also offer trail-goers a second chance to win, and those who enter pictures at www.southportbid.com/gingerbread-trail could be in with the chance of winning the bonus prize of £100 voucher for The Entertainer Southport.
Digital maps can be downloaded here. Printed maps can be picked up from The Atkinson, ASDA, Morrisons, Sainsburys, as well as all participating venues from 23rd November 2024.
The Gingerbread Trail runs from Saturday 23rd November 2024 until Sunday 5th January 2025.
8 – Santa visits at Southport Market
Throughout December Santa will be visiting Southport Market accompanied by one of his helpful Elves to bring some festive cheer.
Bring along your letters to Santa to post them in our magical post box!.
Santa will be visiting Southport Market Hall from 1-3pm and the event is completely ree of charge.
Santa Visits Southport Market on the following dates:
Sunday 15th December
Sunday 22nd December
Monday 23rd December
There’s also lots to keep the children entertained with free Magical Movies to see you through the holiday season, ranging from Elf to Mary Poppins.
Get groovy at Party Nights with performances of popular Christmas songs from live singers and bands on 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st. And let out your creative side with Christmas candle painting on the 20th December.
To stay up to date visit www.southportmarket.com
9 – Oh yes it is! Enjoy a panto extravaganza
This year’s Christmas pantomime at The Atkinson is a spellbinding performance of Sleeping Beauty, starring Blue Peter presenter, magician and TikTok sensation, Joel M. Families can enjoy the Christmas adventure between 6th November and 31st December. Ticket prices vary. To book: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/events/sleeping-beauty-panto/
The Snow White pantomime at Southport Dramatic Club will run between 21st December and 5th January https://littletheatresouthport.co.uk/
The Christmas Wish pantomime will be on at The Fool on West Street between the 7th and 31st December https://www.thefoolsouthport.co.uk/
10 – Bijou Cinema
Southport’s very own independent cinema has unveiled this year’s Christmas lineup.
Bijou Cinema, on Post Office Avenue in Southport, is run by a group of friends who love films.
As they are independent, they have free reign over what films they show. They can screen
anything from old classics to new films.
They said: “From The Holiday to The Muppets… The Shop Around the Corner to the Bishop’s
Wife… there is something for everybody coming up in December.
“The Bijou Christmas Schedule 2024 is full of movies for the young and old and everyone in
between… a range of movies you will have seen, may have always wanted to see… and hopefully some surprises too!
“Please note… any Sold Out screenings will lead to more showings being added, so don’t hesitate to book!”
Each film begins at either 12pm, 2:30pm or 7:30pm, with no trailers. The bar sells drinks and
snacks one hour before a screening.
Visit: southportbijoucinema.co.uk
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